lost highway

I can't help but find the Bannon-Trump kerfuffle to be totally captivating. First because it's a rare time where I agree with Bannon (even if they didn't realize the meeting was treasonous (it was), they should have been smart enough to contact the FBI immediately) on anything. Second because the soap-opera of scandal that is the Trump administration is defined by, and self-sabotaged by a continuous stream of in-fighting. There is no unified effort amongst these bastards, just a twinkling cluster of briefly aligned agendas that burn out in a burst of narcissism and backstabbing. On a simply

I think your reaction, and its opposite both to be defensible. It's hard to estimate the facade vs. recklessness ratio of either of these jokers. I hope you're correct.

Sounds like Superchunk has another toe-tapping punk album lined up: https://www.avclub.com/our-most-anticipated-albums-of-2018-that-we-know-of-1821262983 I'm digging 'What a Time to Be Alive'. Jon Wurster is probably the most underrated drummer in contemporary rock music.

It took my wife and I forever to get a babysitter and see this thing and we finally did. Gotta second (or is it third/fourth now?) the whole casino planet diversion was lame. Finn's story line was nothing but annoying until the time when Benicio del Toro stepped in and then it had a little more impact. Another gripe: how did Rey get back to the Millennium Falcon after the stale-mate duel with Kylor Ren? Not impossible, but too difficult not to explain. Also, while I liked the ace-in-the-sleeve psych out on Luke's part at the end, if the whole thing killed him why didn't he just show up and t

Yeah, I suppose when I speak of the Golden Era of Hip Hop it implies that it is over. I hate to admit it, but I don't even like Kendrick Lamar. I like that someone is making prog hip hop but I don't enjoy listening to it, and I recognize Lamar paints a more layered psychological picture as an MC I still get thrown off by some misogynistic lyrics.

^ True that. I was blinded by my own cynicism.

So the tax plan passed. No one seemed to mind that it favors the rich, will eventually end the modest cuts it gives the middle class, and it's projected to add over a trillion to the deficit. Crappy.

After that wide open guitar lead just sustains in your face and it sounds like the song could explode, and then it folds into itself for another hushed chorus.... pretty magical.

Have you had any time with "the golden era" of late 90's early 00's hip hop? I.e. Roots- Things Fall Apart, Black Star, Dilated Peoples- The Platform, Mos Def- Black on Both Sides, Jay-Z- The Blueprint, Raekwon- Built for Cuban Lynx?

I keep wondering if they're going to stick to their new formula of 'rippers only', or if they're gonna spread out again like they did before their hiatus. What they're doing is definitely working, but I wouldn't be sad if there was a touch of 'Come Pick Me Up' or 'Here's to Shutting Up' indulgences.

Oh shit, I didn't even think of this. God, I hope you're wrong, but this is probably an astute prediction.

I think they'll make a new album later in 2018 and we won't get it until 2019. The blurb under the video stream from their Twin Cities show said they were taking the year off to record. Did anyone see some evidence on a new Superchunk and a new Yo la Tengo heading our way? Those would both make me very happy- long-time favorite artists who have been knocking it out of the park in their golden years. Darn-tootin!

This might be one of those "Today it would be" questions (which might ruin the intensity of your setup), but........ Today I had a moment with "Hell is Chrome" a little after sunrise when the second cup of coffee hit, where I thought every other song must sound stupid because it's so perfect.

^ A big part of this problem is production aesthetic. Autotune has become insidious and ever present. I think hearing mathematically perfect pitch, even as the technology has allowed engineers to apply it less obviously, creates a different emotional response- just like hearing Glenn Kotche's rhythmic pocket versus a drum machine. I remember Neko Case saying she wished more artists had the balls to stand up to whatever slick producer is in the room and just say, "Give me 9 or 10 more takes, I'll get it. I don't need pitch correction." Wilco records have a emotionally effective lack of phony

It's subtle, but this song seems to follow a recent trend of him expressing a more political sentiment than in the past. Between "All lives you say", and the new Mavis tunes it seems that Jeff's feeling the dismay and disgust at our current administration/culture wars.

That might be some of the key to the mystery I posted. Well said. You can always hear the human inhabiting the singer.

Objectively his voice as an instrument is just okay, his range is fair, his pitch is solid and his lyrics are excellent. Subjectively, as a whole he's got something that stirs more emotion in many people than most vocal powerhouses ever have. That's always fascinating to me, I love it.

That's big of you. For my part, had I assumed worse it would have been a better estimation of Franken's behavior.

Yeah, there's bound to be something with Wilco taking a year off the road. These guys are always very strategic with their schedules. I wonder if we'll see any more of the Loft acoustic series after the JT solo record last year.

So holy shit. I just realized no one has said anything since: A) Michael Flynn plead guilty to lying to the FBI (which was clearly done in a deal which will screw someone else in the Trump team) B ) The senate passed a tax bill that cuts corporate rates while raising taxes on many in the middle class I take our lack of discussion as a sign of outrage burnout. Shit's so crazy, it doesn't even feel crazy anymore.

My band puts out records on vinyl. The cost in terms of both time and finances to get everything printed and pressed is pretty insane. The download coupon is comparatively nothing; it takes so little effort and money. The idea (especially for a high-priced deluxe release) that companies can't be bothered to include it seems ridiculous to me.

Hesitation Rocks has some of the elements of it as well. Weird to see how many ideas were kicking around for so many years. The demo of Capitol City is so cool, I can't understand why the band passed on it for so long.

Great conversation. Got a little awkward when he asked John about realizing he wasn't going to be much of a contributing songwriter to the band. Poor John, that was a tough question to field diplomatically, and diplomacy seems to be John's primary function (aside from being an endless source of melodic bass lines and nice vocal harmonies).

Gotta say guys: When I saw recent activity on a thread called New YLT Album, I got excited. Then I clicked and got disappointed.

Oh geez, I totally forgot Aimee Mann- Mental Illness and Laura Marling- Semper Femina.